Andy Burnham’s slavery apology ‘will empty Britain’s museums’, MPs warn as artefacts linked to era are handed over

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Comment now Next MPs fear Labour is plotting to empty Britain’s museums after they apologise for slavery. They warn Andy Burnham has “opened Pandora’s box” with plans for a formal apology over Britain’s role in the slave trade. Andy Burnham has ‘opened Pandora’s box’ with plans for a formal apology over Britain’s role in the slave trade, MPs warn Source: AFP MPs fear it will lead to artefacts linked to the colonial-era — such as the Elgin Marbles — being handed over Source: Getty Advertisement And they fear it will lead to artefacts linked to the colonial-era — such as the Elgin Marbles — being handed over.

The Prime Minister announced £40million investment over the next three years in the Caribbean and is backing a “debt reset” for struggling nations. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. But Wendy Morton , Shadow Foreign Office Minister, said: “Labour has opened Pandora’s box, and once you cave in the demands never stop.

“It starts with a debt restructuring, then an apology, then reparations, and before you know it, they are handing back the Elgin Marbles. Read More on Politics THE SUN SAYS Healey's Budget MUST back business and reverse Starmer’s tsunami of tax rises BUDGET BLAST Healey will do more damage at his first Budget than Rachel Reeves, fears Kemi “Labour should be standing up for Britain, but the Prime Minister seems so keen to give away our marbles he’s lost his own.”

Before he became PM, Mr Burnham was in favour of returning the ancient Greek statues — removed from the Parthenon and brought over to Britain from Athens in the 19th century by Lord Elgin. And in a meeting this week with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband , the Ghanaian government raised “the future” of Asante cultural artefacts held by the British Museum, we can reveal. It can also be revealed British officials attended a conference on slavery reparations in Accra, Ghana , this year where a list of demands were made — including “comprehensive debt relief”.

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What we found (2)

The Sun's headline says slavery-era artefacts are being handed over, but the body reports no handover, only a Conservative frontbencher's fear that one may follow and a Ghanaian request about 'the future' of Asante artefacts. The headline also treats a planned apology as made and turns the one named MP, Wendy Morton, into 'MPs'. In an unquoted paraphrase of MPs' fears, The Sun says Labour is 'plotting' to empty museums, a word nothing in the article supports.

Headline goes beyond the article
Serious
“as artefacts linked to era are handed over”
Why this matters
The words 'as artefacts linked to era are handed over' state in The Sun's own voice that a handover of slavery-era artefacts is happening now.
The impression it gives
A reader believes Britain is already returning slavery-era artefacts alongside the apology.
The context
The body reports no handover of any artefact. It reports only that MPs 'fear it will lead to' artefacts being handed over, and that Ghana raised 'the future' of Asante artefacts in a meeting. The one artefact named, the Elgin Marbles, is described in the body as ancient Greek statues from Athens, not slavery-era items.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“MPs fear it will lead to artefacts linked to the colonial-era”
- Elsewhere in the article“raised “the future” of Asante cultural artefacts held by the British Museum”
- Elsewhere in the article“returning the ancient Greek statues”
Show it in the article
“Andy Burnham’s slavery apology”
Why this matters
The words 'Andy Burnham’s slavery apology' present the apology as something already made.
The impression it gives
A reader believes the Prime Minister has already apologised for slavery.
The context
The body says only that he has 'plans for a formal apology'. No apology is reported as having been made.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“with plans for a formal apology over Britain’s role”
Show it in the article
“MPs warn”
Why this matters
The words 'MPs warn' put the museum warning in the mouths of a group of MPs.
The impression it gives
A reader believes several MPs have made this warning.
The context
The only MP quoted or named anywhere in the article is Wendy Morton, the Shadow Foreign Office Minister. No other MP is identified.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“But Wendy Morton , Shadow Foreign Office Minister, said”
Show it in the article
Written straight
Tory frontbencher says Burnham's planned slavery apology could lead to museum artefacts being returned, as Ghana raises future of Asante items held by British Museum.
Uses a loaded word
Minor
“Labour is plotting to empty Britain’s museums”
Why this matters
The word 'plotting' paints Labour as secretly scheming to strip the museums, in a paraphrase given without quotation marks.
The impression it gives
A reader believes Labour has a hidden plan to empty museums.
The context
Nothing in the article shows any plan to empty museums. Even the quoted MP describes a slide driven by outside demands, not a plot.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“once you cave in the demands never stop”
Show it in the article

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Andy Burnham’s slavery apology ‘will empty Britain’s museums’, MPs warn as artefacts linked to era are handed over

Headline goes beyond the article

Uses a loaded word

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